The district proposes a $167,132,054 budget for 2015-16, a 2.94 percent increase from the current $162,358,708.

The tax levy would decline 0.09 percent, from $87,784,865 to $87,705,765. This proposal is below the state's tax-cap limit 1.51 percent, so a simple majority is required to approve the budget.

School taxes on an average single-family home would decrease 0.04 percent, from $6,770 to $6,767.

Voters will be asked to authorize the district to spend $1.5 million from its capital reserve fund on projects across the district, including upgrades to restrooms, safety and security measures and ceiling and window replacements. The measure would have no effect on taxes, according to the district.

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Frank Grossman, Ernest Kight and Eric Robinson are vying for one at-large seat. Debra Mule is not seeking re-election. The term is three years.

Frank Grossman

BACKGROUND: Grossman, 76, is a certified public accountant who retired in 2010. He holds a bachelor's in accounting from LIU Post and became a New York State certified public accountant in 1991. He has lived in the district his entire life. His adult son attended district schools. This is Grossman's third run for school board; he ran unsuccessfully in 2013 and 2014.

ISSUES: Grossman said if elected, he would use his accounting skills to make school finances more transparent to the public. "I feel that the finances are the most important thing," Grossman said, adding that the "taxes are very high down here for a poor district." He said he would push for complete independent audits of the district's financial records. "If I get in there, I will make sure they have complete audits and they're not limited to what they can audit," he said. Grossman said he also wants to televise board meetings to allow the public to follow board proceedings.

Eric Robinson

BACKGROUND: Robinson, 47, is a New York State court officer serving in Nassau County District Court. He graduated from Freeport High School and attended SUNY Oneonta and Nassau County Community College. He has lived in the district for 38 years and has two daughters who attend district schools. This is his first run for school board.

ISSUES: Robinson said testing was a key issue for him, and, as a board member, he would work to reach out to state officials to begin a dialogue on how to ease the burden on students and teachers of "teaching to the test." Robinson said he would like to see the district reach out more actively to "all the demographics in Freeport. We have a Hispanic community that is very large in Freeport, and I believe they need to be reached out to in a more effective way than is being done right now," he said. "I'd like to figure out a way to get more people involved in school events and make sure their kids have all the things they need to succeed." He said his role as a parent with children currently in the district would bring a fresh perspective to the school board. "I feel like I really know the pulse of the district," Robinson said.

Ernest Kight

BACKGROUND: Kight, 63, retired as principal of Freeport High School in 2012. He was an employee of the district for 36 years, starting as a teacher. He holds a bachelor's in political science from Stonehill College in Massachusetts, a master's in special education from Hofstra University and an administrative certificate from LIU Post. He has lived in the district for 25 years. Kight attempted to run for the school board in 2014, but was disqualified after the school board determined he did not meet the residency requirements.

ISSUES: Kight said his experience as a longtime teacher and administrator in the Freeport district would enable him to better serve the district on the school board. "You have somebody from the inside, and parents on the outside -- most boards don't have that opportunity," he said. "I feel that's an advantage I have." He said his primary focus would be on fiscal responsibility in the district. "That would be one of my concerns -- making sure that Freeport, with its great school system, maintains their program, especially under the fiscal constraints we have to deal with."